Pot Roast

So, Jesse and I were both sick the past few days (thankfully Turner didn't get sick!) so I wanted to make some yummy terrible for you comfort food to warm us up and make us feel better!  One of the first things that came to mind was pot roast.  I usually make it in the crock pot, but recently the hubs has had an aversion to crock pot food.  He feels like most things made in the crock pot all taste the same.  I think he is kinda crazy, but I ventured out there on the internetz to find a roast recipe that was not made in the grand ole crock pot.  Whoa.  I sure am glad that I did!  The first place that I looked was the Pioneer Woman's website because everything I have ever made of hers has been great. I took one look at the recipe and knew this would be yummy.  

Here is the recipe.

My review:

I loved how simple the ingredients were.  Roast, beef stock, salt, pepper, carrots, onions, rosemary, thyme. 

At first, I thought "where are the potatoes??" but I agree with her that leaving them out and just doing mashed potatoes on the side is waayy better. 

Even though you had to brown the veggies and the meat, it was just as simple as a crock pot.

The flavors were simply wonderful together and the carrots and onions were perfect.

I know, I know... its just a roast.  But this is a dang good one.  If you are up for giving the crock pot a rest one Sunday, I highly recommend this recipe! 

Wolf Gap Hike

While it is hard to believe this right now... 2 weekends ago we had beautiful weather!  It has been really cold and snowy here these past few days, but a few weeks ago we decided to enjoy the welcomed change in weather by getting outdoors.  We ventured off to Wolf Gap Recreation Area in the George Washington National Forest.  The hike Jesse chose took us to the Big Schloss Overlook with beautiful views of the Virginia and West Virginia mountains!  There was still a little bit of snow on the trail from a few weeks ago.  The hike started out pretty steep, but then after about a mile we were on the ridge for the rest of the way to the overlook.  This is some of the best "bang for your buck" hiking because you pretty much have amazing views the entire time! 

T man took a snooze on the way back to the car.  Can you imagine sleeping like this??

Our options for post-hike food was fast food or Cracker Barrel so we decided to throw down with some breakfast!  We got some green beans and mac&cheese for Turner and he thought it was the bomb.  Yum.  Love me some Cracker Barrel. 

Alrighty well that is all for today! Back to cold weather and 'freezing drizzle'... what is that anyways Weather Service?  Whatever it is, Jesse was able to telework today because of it. Score!

Love.

Hummus Veggie Pizzas

Hey guys!  Today I have a recipe that I want to share with you.  Jesse and I are trying to have a veggie night at least one night a week.  I have been looking for some yummy recipes and came across this one from Whole Foods on Twitter recently.  I tried it out last night and we both loved it!  I didn't follow the directions exactly... I think it would have been even better had I done that.

Sidenotes: I didn't use the specific brand of hummus or tortillas that they are advertising here... just used good ole Trader Joes brand. Also, you have to watch the video to actually see the recipe, but it's short and does a great job explaining the easy process!

If you don't follow Whole Foods on twitter, I recommend it!  They are always posting new and different recipes and have some interesting chat nights. And boy do they looooove this hashtag  --> #Healthyeah  Anyways, if you are on twitter and are looking for a new account to follow, check out @WholeFoods.  Oh! And if you don't follow me and would like to, check out @acenglish.

Alrighty, so here's the recipe!  Enjoy!

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/pizza-you-can-feel-good-about-eating?sf8391747=1

a look back at 4 years

I can't help but reminisce on this very special day - the 10th day of January.  4 years ago today I said "I do" to a guy and vowed to have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, til death do us part.

Over the past 4 years we have had to demonstrate love to each other through each of these promises.  These years have definitely not been a "breeze" but they HAVE shaped us and have created the marriage that we are still working on today -- and every day.

Let's take a look back, shall we?

(background - 2008: Jesse graduated from Mississippi State in May with a business degree in Construction Management and moved to Birmingham, AL to work for Brasfield & Gorrie.  He proposed to me in August and the wedding planning began!  I graduated from State that December with a degree in Communication - Public Relations.)

2009: Got married in January!  Went on an amazing honeymoon to Mexico! I moved in with Jesse in Birmingham and started my first job with the March of Dimes. Along with many others in the company, Jesse lost his job in June (stupid economy). In July he decided to go back to school to get his masters in landscape architecture.  In August we moved back to Starkville, MS for Jesse to begin his program and I started my second job working with a health promotion program, "Mississippi In Motion."

2010: Jesse finished his hardest leveling year in grad school. We made it through our first summer apart as a married couple as Jesse worked for the National Park Service at the Moses Cone Estate on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, NC. We got our puppy, Maggie. We moved from our apartment into our first house together on Critz Street. I started my masters degree in Health Promotion. I changed jobs (again) to be an Admissions Counselor at Mississippi State University - one of the BEST jobs in the world with the BEST people. I ran a half marathon!

2011: Started out the year with snow in Starkville on our anniversary. SURPRISE! We found out Father's Day weekend that we were going to have a baby! I survived my one and only Orientation on staff at MSU while newly pregnant. We experienced yet another summer apart while Jesse worked for the National Park Service again but this time in Atlanta, GA.  We celebrated with friends and family as we found out we would be having a little boy. Jesse applied to the Presidential Management Fellows program and made it past multiple levels of their selection. I completed my masters degree and graduated in December.

    (I don't know why we wrote 09 here... it was 2011)

2012: We went on a "baby moon" in January to the lovely cabin where we stayed on our wedding night.  We found out that Jesse was officially a Presidential Management Fellow!  He got a call from the Chief Landscape Architect from the U.S. Forest Service about potentially working for them.  He interviewed for and was offered a job as a landscape architect for the Forest Service on the 21st - the day before Turner's due date. Of course, he accepted! On the evening of the 22nd, my water broke and on the 23rd, we experienced one of the most amazing things in the world - HAVING A BABY.  Whoa. I started yet another job: Mom. That should be enough for 2012, but no. That's not our style. Jesse and our friend Chris visited DC and found us an apartment. In May, Jesse graduated with a 4.0.  Seriously, the guy is a genius. In May we went on a trip with Jesse's family to Hawaii.  In June, we moved to Del Ray - in Alexandria, VA.  We have since then been adjusting to the move, Jesse getting settled in his new job, and making this place our new home together.  Oh, and Jesse went on business trips to Pheonix, Arizona and Amman, Jordan.

And that's where we are.  4 years that were JAMMED PACKED.  I am so thankful to have had Jesse to spend these years with.  We have definitely had our for better or worse, for richer, for poorer moments. But for those experiences, I am so thankful, because they have made the to have and to hold, to love and to cherish moments even BETTER.

I love you Jesse and I am excited to see what 2013 and the beginning of our 5th year has in store for our family... one of these days I'm ready for life to slow down. ;)

noisefarmer: Best Songs of 2012

So, my husband is really into music, which is a great thing for me because he keeps me current.  He is always playing new music for me...  so much that is hard for me to keep up.  He has a couple of blogs you might be interested in checking out... noisefarmer.blogspot.com and http://jrenglish.tumblr.com.

Every year he makes a list of his favorite songs and albums that were produced that year.  So, without further adieu, here you go!

noisefarmer: Best Songs of 2012

P.S. If you scroll down after the best songs post, you will find his "Best Albums" post.

Enjoy!

Yep . . . Still here!

Hey blog world!  It's been quite a while since my last post.  I have been torn about my blog recently, so instead of figuring it out, I just went on a little hiatus.  At times I wonder why I write on this blog. Mostly I have been writing about Turner, but I am convicted about this blog being more than just a "mommy blog."  I know it can be annoying to ONLY hear about a new mom's baby.  But at the same time, that is my LIFE right now.  24/7 I am Mom.  So it is a hard thing to balance.

So I have been taking a little break and have been pleasantly surprised to have had a good number of people comment about how I haven't blogged in a while.  Honestly, it has made me feel good because I feel like people actually care to read about what is going on in our lives, no matter how mundane and repetitive (or baby overload) it can seem.

I have realized recently how much I am forgetting about this first year of Turner's life.  People will ask me questions about Turner from a few months ago and I sometimes have a hard time remembering the details.  So, as much as this blog is for my readers, it is also for me... to have a written account of my sweet boy teaching me how to become a momma.

BUT I also want to share recipes, articles, photography, music, and anything else that I feel compelled to pass along to you.  So, here I am... back at it again and am trying to have fresh perspective about my little corner of the internet.

So, here we go 2013.  Fresh start.  Perspective.  A recharging of Everyday English!

     Photo by Dennis Farris